The day we left, the forecast for the aurora was high. When we were flying from Seattle, the pilot told us they were beginning to pop up in front of the plane. Unfortunately, just as Don and I were getting a chance to see them, the plane started its descent into CLOUDY Fairbanks. Susan and John, who were in Anchorage, were able to see the spectacular show, but we didn't.
On Saturday again the forecast was pretty good. We were in Chena Hot Springs by then and we signed up to take a snow cat to the top of a hill to see the aurora. The tour began at 9:30 and we were going to come home at 2:00 a.m. Long night. We arrived at the top of the hill - where it was completely dark - to see a green glow over the top of the hill. It looked like the glow of a city beyond the horizon.
The resort had a yurt at the top of the hill that was equipped with three propane heaters and some snacks. Unfortunately, not long after we arrived, the biggest propane heater went out. It had run out of propane . . . and at -20 degrees, that was not a good thing.
We went in and out, watching for the aurora. The other 20 or so people with us were Japanese and did not speak much English. Suddenly one of the Japanese men came into the yurt, said something urgently, and the entire group hustled outside. That was our cue . . . we scrambled outside also and were privy to a green and white cloud moving about in the sky. Within a few minutes it quit and went back to being rather boring.
About an hour later, I went outside to watch . . . and it was my turn to go in the yurt and send the "Hurry outside" alarm. Everyone scrambled out again to see more dancing in the sky.
Not long after it finished, we came down the hill, and by 3 a.m. we were in bed. We got to see the aurora one more time, but it wasn't as spectacular as the time in Chena Hot Springs. For those of us who live in areas where the aurora doesn't appear, it was a magnificent sight . . . and a very special evening, shared with friends.
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